Switch



T. ZIMMERMAN.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I3. 1915. 1,362,662, Patented Deo. 21, 1920.

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THOMAS ZIMMERMAN, or NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, AssIGNQR. To u. s. .nieuwe HEAT CORIPORA'ILION,v '0F NIAGARA FALLS, YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

asnap action in opening and closing, which snap action is irrespective of the character of the pressure applied by the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch that may bereadily manufactured and assembled.

Another object is to provide an improved switch structure wherein the making and breaking arcs, if any, are drawn across' parts which are not in the main currentcarrying circuit.

Other objects will be apparent from the description which follows.

In the drawings, wherein is shown one of the various possible embodiments of the invention, i f

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the switch in open position,

Fig 2 is a similar view showing the switch closed.

The present embodiment of the invention includes a block 1() of suitable insulating material. Firmly secured within said block is the bushing 11 which carries the plunger 12. Carried by the block 1() is an annular member 13, arranged concentrically with the plunger 12 and having converging walls as shown. The annular member 13 may be a complete annulus of conducting material or, if preferred. may be made up of sections of conducting material separated by insulating portions, thus providing a plurality of contacts. Opposed to the annular member-13 are the external contacts 14 and the internal contact 15, which are movably mounted' and are carried by means which will presently be described.. The contacts 14 and 15 are annular in form land are preferably slitted to permit good spring engagement of said contacts 14 and 15 with the annular member 13. Mounted in the block 10 is a fixed auxiliary contact 16, preferably a carbon block, in electrical contact with the annular member 13. Opposed to the contact 16 is a movable auxiliary con- ASpecification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 21, 1920..` Application led December 13, 1915. Serial No. 66,568.

tact 17, preferably of carbon, which is in good electrical connection with the contacts 14 and 15. Said contact 17 is yieldingly mounted by means of the spring 18, on the support 19,-of some good conducting metal, which support 19 is in contact and moves with the contact 14. Good electrical connection between thev auxiliary contact 17 and the supportA is assured by the pig-tail connection 20.

A spring box 21 has an extended neck portion 22 encircling-and sliding upon the bushing 11. Firmly secured to the spring box 21 by any suitable means, is the contact base 23, which carries the contacts 14, 15 and the support 19. Suitably mounted in a transverse hole in the Contact base 23 1s a spring 24, which urges a steel ball 25 inwardly. Saidj ball 25 is adapted to ride in an aperture 26 in the neck portion 22, and in either aperture 27 or aperture 28. The plunger 12 is provided with a reduced central portion 29, which reduced portion has cam shaped ends 30 and 31. The parts are so proportioned that when the ball 25 is resting upon the reduced portion 29, its center will be approximately iiush with the sliding surface between the bushing 11 and 1 the neck 22. In such a position the ball 25 therefore acts as a stopv to prevent relative movement between said parts.

Mounted within the spring box 21 are three coil springs 32', 33 and 34arranged coaxially with the plunger 12. Closing the sp1-ing box at the right hand end is a cap Surrounding the plunger 12 and abutting against a shoulder 36 of the same is a sleeve 37. This sleeve extends through the cap 35, as shown, and is provided with an integral collar 38 to abut against said cap 35. Said collar 38 serves as :an abutment for springs 32A and 33 lat their right hand ends. Spring 32 abuts against the inside of the spring box atits left hand end, whereas springs 33 and 34 at their left hand ends abut against the stationary springsupport 39, which preferablv assumes the shape of an annular cup. Said "spring support 39 abuts against the right hand end vof the bushing 11. Theright hand end of spring 33 abuts against the collar 38 of the sleeve 37, while the right hand end of spring 34 abuts against a shoulder 40 on the plunger 12. A sleeve 41 is securely fastened to the 'left hand end of the plunger 12, which, by

abuttin against the block 10, 1imits movement o the plunger 12 in a rlght hand d1- rection. v

A model of operation of the above described embodiment of the present invention is as follows: The switch is shown in its open position in Fig. 1. If the operator desires to close the switch, he pushes the plunger 12in a left hand directlon, which will compress springs 32, 33 and 34. As long as the ball 25 rides against the reduced portion 29 of the plunger, said ball will act as a stop to revent relative movement between the bushing 11 and the spring box 21. When, however, the plunger is pushed far enough to the left to bring the cam shaped surface 31 in contact with the ball 25, said ball will be pushed outwardly, so that it no longer acts as a stop to prevent relative movement between the bushing 11 and the sprin box 21. The spring box 21, with its attac ed parts, including the contact base 23, the contact rings 14, 15, and the contact 17, will be suddenly7 snapped to the left by the spring 32. This will result in the sudden closin of the switch, the

arts being in the osition shown in Flg. 2.

he ball 25 has rldden along the bushing 1l and has dropped into theaperture 28 again coming into contact with the reduced portion 29 of the plun er. This position will be maintained as ong as pressure is applied to the plunger 12 1n a direction tol 4push it to the left.

It will be noted that though the spring 32 has expended its energy, the springs 33 and 34 are still under compression. As lon as plunger 12 is held in its left hand position, the ball 25 will revent relative movement between the bushing 11 and the spring box 21, with its attached. parts, so that the switch is held securely Iclosed. When the operator removes pressure. from the plunger, the spring 34, exertin ressure between the ixed bushin 11 an wil move the plunger to the right, bringing the cam shaped portion 30 into en agement with the ball 25. The ball wil be pushed outwardly and the spring 33 will suddenl snap the'spring boxl 21, with its attache parts, to the right, opening the switch. The ball 25 will ride over the bushing 11, dropping once more into the aperture 27 into engagement with the reduced portion 29 of the plunger, so that the switch 1s securely held in its open position.

It is yto be noted that the carbon contacts 16, 17, close a parallel circuit with the contacts 13, 14, 15. By reason of this construction, any sparking which occurs upon closing or opening the switch, will take place across the carbon contacts 16, 17, thus saving the main current-carrying contacts from impairment. By reason of the fact that the carbon contact 17 is yieldingly mounted on 4ous that many changes ma t e shoulder 40 on the plunger,

the support 19, it may be made to close contact with 16 before and lopen contact after the contacts 13, 14, 15, have engaged or disengaged.. A

One embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, but it is obvibe made by those skilled n the art, wit out departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the a pended claims.

What claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a switch, in combination, a fixed contact support, a contact arranged thereon, a carrler having a contact, said carrier comprising a movable sleeve, a springpressed roller adapted to abut said sleeve alternately to lock the carrier in different positions, a plurality of mutually unopposed spring means reactin against said sleeve, one of said means being adapted to urge said sleeve in one direction, another of said spring means being adapted to urge said sleeve in the opposlte direction, and a plunger movable to cause compression of thes ring means.

2. n a switch, in combination, a fixed contact support, 1a contact arranged thereon, a carrier having a contact, said carrier comprising a movable sleeve, a springpressed roller adapted to abut said sleeve alternately to lock the carrier in different positions, a plurality of mutually unopposed spring means reacting against said sleeve, and a plunger movable to cause compression of the spring means and operate said roller.

3. In a switch, a fixed contact, a longitudinally movable contact, a plurality of mutually unopposed spring means one of which is adapted to urge said movable contact in one direction and another of which is adapted to urge said movable contact in the opposite direction, said spring means being coaxial and arranged one withinl another, a plunger coperatively associated with said spring means to store lenergy therein, a spring-pressed latch coperatlng with'said plunger and adapted to prevent engagement or disengagement with the contacts until a predetermined movement of said plunger.

4. n a switch, a fixed contact, a plunger, a plurality of. mutually unopposed energy storin means associated with said plunger, a fixe member associated with said plunger provided with a pair of spaced apertures,

with a spring-pressed latching member adapted to fit within one or the other of said apertures, said plunger being provided with latch-engaging portions to move said latch to permit the energy storing means to move said movable contact carrying means with a snap action, one of said energy stor- `movable contact-carrying means provided ya fixed member associated withv said plunger, a-movable contact carryin mem-v ber' provided with a spring-presse latching member, which latching member cooperateswith said fixed member to hold said\ movable contact-carrying member in either of two positions, said plunger being provided'with cam shaped portions `to engage,

said latching member, and a plurality of .mutually unopposed energy storing means,

' one of said energy-storing means bIe-ing adapted to .urge said movable contact-carrying member in one direction, another of sa1d energy-storing means being ada/pted to urge said` movable contact-carrying member in the opposite direction and another of said energy-storing means being adapted to bias said plunger.

6. In a switch, a fixed contact, a movable contact, a latch for holding said ,movable contact in either open or closed position, controlling means for said latch, energy-storing means for urging said movablecontact to closed position, energy-storing means for urging said movable contactto open position, Aand energy-storing means for biasing said controlling means to a certain position, said energy storing means being mutually unopposed springs which are'mounted co axially. l

7 In a switch, a fixed contact, a movable contact, means for holding said movable contact in either open or closed position, controlling means lfor said holding means, a coil spring for urging said movable contact toclosed position, a coil spring for urging said movable contact to open position, and a coil spring for biasing said controlling means to a certain position, said springs being coaxially arranged within one another and mutually unopposed.

8. In a. switch, a manually operable plunger provided with a reduced portion and cam shaped portions intermediate its length, a fixed memberprovided with a pair of apertures adjacent said plunger, a contact-carrying member mounted adjacent said fixed member, said contact-carrying member being provided with an `aperture to register with one or the other of said pair of apertures, a spring-pressed ball carried by said contact-carrying member riding in the aperture in said contact-carrying member and adapted to projectl through one or the other of said pair of apertures to engage said reduced lportion of the plunger to lock the contact carrying memvber-against movement, the said cam sha ed portions being 'adapted to move said all to permit, movementof said Icontact carry-l ing member, energy storing meansfor biasing said plunger to an outward position, energy storingmeans 'for urging said contact carrying means in one direction, and energy storing means for urging'said contact-carrying means in the-opposite direction.

9. In a switch, a manually operable plunger provided"with a reduced o rtion and cam shaped portions intermedlate its length, a fixed 'member provided with a v'pair of apertures adjacent said plunger, a

contact-carrying member mounted adjacent sov said fixed .member, said contact-carrying member being provided with an aperture to register with one or the other of said pair of apertures, a spring-pressed ball carried by said contact-carrymg member riding in `the aperture in said contact-carrying member and ada ted to project through one or the other o said pair of apertures to engage said reduced portion of the plunger to lock the contact-carrying member against movement, the said cam shaped portions being adapted to move said ball to permit movement of said contact carrying member, energy storing means for biasing said plunger to an outward position, energy storingmeans forurging said contact carrying means in one direction, and energy storing means for urging said contact carrying means in the opposite direction, said energy storin means being superposed.

10. n a switch a fixed contact, a movable contact, means for causing movement of said movable contact, locking means adapted to lock said movable contact in two different positions controlled by said firstnamed means, a spring for suddenly moving said movablecontact when the same is unlocked, a spring for suddenly moving said movable contact in the reverse direction when the same is unlocked,.and a spring for biasing said manual means to a certain position, said springs being coaxially arranged within one another and mutually unopposed.

11. In a quick acting make and break switch, a fixed member provided with a pair of apertures, a movable member 'slidable thereon -provided with an aperture adapted to register with one or the other of said pair. of apertures, a plunger provided with a reduced central portion, said reduced portion having cam shaped ends, 'a springreduced ortion its center lwill be approximately ush with the slidin surface between the fixed and mova le members, whereby to prevent movement, energy storing means controlled `by said plunger adapted to urge lsaid movable member inI either of two directions, whereby when one of the said cam shaped portions engages said ball to raisel its center above said sl1d- 10 ing surface the ball will be forced out of the erture in the fixed member and the movle member will move with a snap action until the b'all engagesthe other aperture in the fixed member and whereby when the other camshaped portionengages said ball to raise its center, the reverse action will occur.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

` THOMAS ZIMMERMAN. 

